Funnel improvement



Oct. 12, 1965 R. K. PORTER 3,211,195

FUNNEL IMPROVEMENT Filed July 20, 1961 B05527- Kam POETEE IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,211,195 FUNNEL IMPROVEMENT Robert K. Porter, Los Augeles, Caliitl, assignor of onethird to Vincent C. Tyrrell, Torrance, Calif. Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No. 125,499 2 Claims. ((31. 141337) This invention relates to an improved funnel construction which is adaptable for rigid attachment to containers with various sized filler openings. When pouring materials from one container into another container, funnels are usually employed especially when the opening of the second container is small.

The funnels so used ordinarily have a spout portion which fits loosely into the second container filler opening. This loose fit allows the funnel to be displaced easily either by the first container coming in contact with the funnel, or by the weight of material waiting to flow through the spout portion into the second container.

Therefore, the use of this type of funnel creates waste, and in some cases a dangerous hazard by allowing harmful materials to be spilled due to the great variety of sizes of container openings. Several funnels of different sizes must be kept on hand to meet all pouring requirements.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a funnel which may be firmly attached to containers having difierent sized filler openings.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a funnel that it may be firmly attached to a container for use on both filling and emptying said container.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a funnel that it may be attached to a container without the addition of unhandy clamps or brackets.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a funnel so that it may be inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a funnel that it may be used as a container extension, so that materials may be added to a full container and mixed therein without first emptying a portion of the contents of said container.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partially in section, of an embodiment of the invention shown attached to a filler neck of a container.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a modification of the invention showing a funnel spout embodying the invention.

'FIG. 3 is an elevation, in section, of an embodiment of the invention shown attached to a larger filler neck of a container with which the funnel is used.

FIG. 4 is an elevation View, in section, of another embodiment of the invention,

A form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 consists of a funnel generally designated 1 comprising frusto-conical shell, 2 the exterior of the shell 2 is formed with annular ridges 3. The adjacent annular ridges form a recess 4 therebetween. The annular ridges 3 and the recesses 4 being larger or smaller in diameter along the extent of the frusto-conical shell exterior, cooperate to provide the supporting surface for the filler neck 5 of the container 6.

Should the filler neck of the container 6 be larger, the funnel of this invention is inserted further into the opening 5, to the appropriate ridge 3 and recess 4 that will provide firm support to the funnel. According to the present invention when the funnel is firmly held by the filler neck of the container, the rib 8, the recess 9 and the next adjacent ridge 10, co-operate with the neck 5 to retain the funnel. Since the neck 5 must displace the rib 8 when the funnel 1 is inserted, it is contemplated that the material used in the funnel construction will be of a resilient nature. However, should resilient "ice containers be filled, the funnel and the annular ridges of the funnel could be of rigid construction.

In the modification shown in FIG. 2 a conventional funnel 11 is shown, with the inverted frusto-conical shell 13 being attached to the spout 12 which is also an inverted frusto-conical shell. The attachment of the funnel 11 to the container 17 is accomplished by annular ridges around the exterior of the surface of the shell 12. In the embodiment shown, the annular ridges I4 and 16 and the annular recess 1'8 cooperate with the filler lip 15 of the container 17 to firmly attach the funnel 11 to the container.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3 it will be noted that the funnel 19 corresponds closely to the funnel 1 of FIG. 1. By way of example the container 20 may be a paint can type with a filler opening substantially as large as the diameter of the container. In operation the funnel 19 is secured to the container 20 by the recess 21 and the annular ridges 22 and 23. It will be noted that the annular ridge 23 is slightly larger in diameter than the lip 24 of the container 20. Since the annular ridge 23 is of arcuate cross section it can be smoothly deformed by the container lip 24. In operation the funnel 19 is pressed downwardly into the container until it is firmly attached by deforming inwardly the arcuate ridge 23 by the container lip 24. After the annular ridge 23 passes the container lip 24 it assumes its normal size, and provides the retaining action.

In this modification it is contemplated that the present invention may be used not only to fill containers with large filler openings, but it may also be used as an extension for such containers so that the contents may be diluted or added to without the necessity of first removing a portion of content of said container. To remove the funnel 19, from the container 20, one merely lifts the funnel upwardly with sufiicient force to deform the annular ridge 23 inwardly until it is released. past container opening 24.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 4, the funnel 25 is provided with spaced apart annular ridges 26, 27 and 28. This modification of the invention can be used for attaching funnels to container with filler openings of known sizes. In the modification as shown, the annular ridge 26 is slightly larger in diameter than the filler opening 29 of container 30. The top of the funnel 25 is provided with a spout portion 31 so that the funnel of the present invention may be used in filling containers having various size openings and may also be used for emptying the same containers.

The funnel constructions shown herein, of course, may be modified to accommodate variations in the design of filler necks and such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An improved funnel construction, comprising:

an inverted frusto-conical shell;

exterior rib means on said shell, said exterior rib means presenting a plurality of annular outwardly extending resilient rib projections, said resilient rib projections being of arcuate cross section; and

annular recesses between said exterior rib means for receiving an associated container lip in attached sealed relationship, said recesses being of a lesser diameter than the adjacent said exterior rib means.

2. An improved funnel construction, comprising:

an inverted frusto-conical shell portion;

a second inverted frusto-conical shell portion joined to said first frusto-conical shell portion, said second shell portion having less taper than said first shell portion;

exterior rib means on said second shell portion, said exterior rib means presenting a plurality of annular outwardly extending resilient rib projections, said resilient rib projections being of arcuate cross section; and

annular recesses between said exterior rib means for receiving an associated container lip in attached sealed relationship, said recesses being of a lesser diameter than the adjacent exterior rib means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 343,871 6/86 Van Kammen 141-331 X 4}. 1,048,546 12/12 Ketcharn 210470 1,868,389 7/32 Howard 210-456 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 1,086,157 2/55 France.

758,015 9/56 Great Britain. 241,194 2/46 Switzerland.

10 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED FUNNEL CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING: AN INVERTED FRUSTO-CONICAL SHELL; EXTERIOR RIB MEANS ON SAID SHELL, SAID EXTERIOR RIB MEANS PRESENTING A PLURALITY OF ANNULAR OUTWARDLY EXTENDING RESILIENT RIB PROJECTIONS, SAID RESILIENT RIB PROJECTIONS BEING OF ARCUATE CROSS SECTION; AND ANNULAR RECESSES BETWEEN SAID EXTERIOR RIB MEANS FOR RECEIVING AN ASSOCIATED CONTAINER LIP IN ATTACHED SEALED RELATIONSHIP, SAID RECESSES BEING OF A LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE ADJACENT SAID EXTERIOR RIB MEANS. 